ITALIAN
ADOLFO'S 611 Frenchmen St. 948-3800 Each entree is served with a bowl homemade pasta, tossed the fresh sauce of your choice. The kitchen urges patrons to 'make your own special' by mixing and matching the various menu items. The fish of the day is always a good bet, and comes with either shrimp crawfish or crabmeat caper sauce. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $$
ANDREA'S RESTAURANT AND CATERING 3100 19th St., Metairie 834-8583; www.andreasrestaurant.com From the Aqua Pazza --'crazy water' stew, made with red snapper, fresh tomatoes, roasted garlic, olive oil and plenty of herbs -- to the veal shank osso buco, Andrea's exemplifies Northern Italian food prepared with care, and they also work wonders on fresh seafood. The extensive wine list has won a Wine Spectator award, among others. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner daily, brunch on Sunday. Credit cards. $$
ANDY MESSINA'S 2717 Williams Blvd., Kenner 469-7373 Seafood is the star on the menu, but don't miss the baby veal Spedine, which comes is stuffed with eggplant dressing, topped with mozzarella, and served on a bed of angel hair pasta. Barbecue baked oysters are freshly shucked and sauteed in butter, garlic, and herbs, and served over pasta. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
ANGELI ON DECATUR 1141 Decatur St. 566-0077 Locals stop in here for hearty doses of Italian classics like fettuccine Alfredo, which is a bestseller here. Try the Lucifer pizza, weighed down by more kinds of meat than you can shake a pitchfork at, along with caramelized onion, roasted red pepper, and jalapenos. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Delivery available. Credit cards and checks. $
ANSELMO'S 3401 N. Hullen St., Metairie 889-1212 Anselmo's remains a bustling Metairie favorite thanks to Italian specialties such as osso buco and jumbo shrimp submerged in a rosemary cream sauce. The diverse menu also features the salad Alyse, which combines greens, Gorgonzola cheese, bacon and sugared pecans in a vinaigrette. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
BACCO 310 Chartres St. 522-2426; www.bacco.com Start with a tender treat of fried calamari with lemon aioli for dipping, and don't miss the housemade lobster ravioli in champagne butter sauce, dotted with beads of caviar. An extensive Italian and international liqueur selection is available for postprandial lingering. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
BARRECA'S 3100 Metairie Road, Metairie 831-4546 Recent specials include a fresh filet of trout lightly floured, pan fried and served with a shrimp and crab stuffing and a creamy shrimp butter sauce. Another good bet is their half a boneless duck, with tender meat encased in a delectably crispy skin, and served over Cajun rice in a peach brandy glaze. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards and checks. $$
BRAVO! ITALIAN KITCHEN 1711 St. Charles Ave. 525-5515; 3413 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 828-8828; www.bravoitalian.com Among the wood-fired pizzas is the Margherita, which brings the taste of summer to the table with toppings of fresh mozzarella, tomato slices and basil leaves. Steaks, seafood and pasta dishes are also on the menu. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
BRICK OVEN CAFE 2805 Williams Blvd, Kenner 466-2097 The Costoletta di Vitello Liberta is a veal chop stuffed with prosciutto, fontina cheese, pine nuts and mushrooms, and is served in a marsala wine sauce. The pasta jambalaya is a nice twist, with Gulf shrimp, andouille, duck and chicken tossed with spinach fettuccine. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $$
CAFE DIBLASI 1801 Stumpf Blvd. Suite 4, Gretna 361-3106 The specialty is the Veal Diblasi, breaded medallions served with lump crab meat and a lemon cream sauce. Entrees come with pasta, vegetable, and a small salad, so you won't leave hungry. A nice Italian wine list rounds things out. Reservations accepted. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
CAFE GIOVANNI 117 Decatur St. 529-2154; www.cafegiovanni.com Live opera on Wednesdays and weekends is still around, as are classics like the veal saltimbocca, medallions of veal served with sage and prosciutto in a vermouth garlic reduction. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily, late-night Friday-Saturday. Credit cards. $$
CARMINE'S ITALIAN SEAFOOD AND GRILL 4101 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 455-7904 The generous appetizers include an artichoke stuffed with fried shrimp, oysters and fish and topped with a dill cream sauce, while entrees feature pasta dishes such as lasagna and crabmeat ravioli. Look for specials including steamed lobsters and steaks. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
DIA ROMA CAFE 3712 Williams Blvd., Suite O, Kenner 443-6663 Dia Roma is most known for its inventive gourmet pizzas, such as the chicken fajita pizza with grilled chicken breast, mushrooms, peppers, and a creamy Alfredo sauce. But the menu continues with foot-long sandwiches and pasta dinners, including the shrimp Alfredo dinner where angel hair pasta is tossed with veggies and shrimp and served with garlic bread. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $
ELEVEN79 1179 Annunciation St. 299-1179 Always on the menu is the grilled calamari with pecorino polenta and lemon butter or the signature Paneed Veal Eleven79 served with roasted red peppers, asparagus, buffalo mozzarella and lemon sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch Thursday and Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
FAUSTO'S BISTRO 530 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 833-7121 This winter, Fausto's will keep you warm with robust New Orleans Italian dishes like the veal saltimbocca: tender veal medallions sauteed with herbs and fresh mushrooms, crowned with prosciutto and mozzarella and flamed in Marsala wine. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
FIGARO'S RESTAURANT 7900 Maple St. 866-0100 Tempting additions include the mussels Figaro, baked with pancetta, bacon and Roma tomatoes, a rack of lamb in cranberry sauce served with a wild mushroom risotto, and seafood risotto packed with sea scallops, shrimp, crawfish and mussels served with grilled asparagus tips. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
FRANK'S RESTAURANT 933 Decatur St. 525-1602 This old-school Sicilian-American restaurant has been family-owned and operated for decades. Try the Snapper Jack, a deep-fried filet smothered in shrimp, crawfish, and softshell crab topping over pasta. Frank's also serves a hefty 1-lb. rib-eye cooked how you like it. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
IMPASTATO'S 3400 16th St., Metairie 455-1545; www.impastatos.com Regulars order a Tom Benson (crabmeat salad) or an Iron Mike (veal chop with sauteed mushrooms). The softshell crab, deep-fried and topped with lump crabmeat, the pasta and the steak all have diehard fans. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday, late-night Friday-Saturday. Credit cards. $$
IRENE'S CUISINE 539 St. Phillip St. 529-8811 In candlelit rooms, diners devour comforting pasta dishes, like the fried softshell crab on linguine with tomato basil cream sauce. For something different, try the roasted duck with wild rice and corn maque choux. Reservations for parties of five or more. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
MAXIMO'S ITALIAN GRILL 1117 Decatur St. 586-8883; www.maximositaliangrill.com The menu features the popular housemade ravioli with four cheeses, lots of veal, a daily fresh fish selection and seafood specialties like the gamberoni agrodolce with jumbo shrimp prepared in garlic, sherry and lemon. An extensive wine list complements the regional Italian cuisine. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
MIMI'S ITALIAN & SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 10160 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge 737-6464 Italian and Creole cuisines both make an appearance at Mimi's, where diners often pick up some pasta on the way home from work. For dinner, don't miss the double-cut pork chop smoked in-house and served with Creole mustard and green peppercorn demi-glace. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
MOSCA'S 4137 W. Hwy. 90, Avondale 436-9942/436-8950 More than three generations of the Mosca family have prepared Old World Italian entrees like the legendary chicken a la grande, a pan-fried chicken fragrant with olive oil, rosemary and plenty of garlic. Everything is served family style, so share platters of spaghetti in red sauce with garlicky meatballs and spicy sausage with roasted potatoes. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Cash only. $$$
NARDO'S TRATTORIA 6078 Laurel St. 895-9441; www.nardostrattoria.com This new Uptown trattoria's menu ranges from the casual, such as the three-cheese calzones to the elegant Tuscan specialties like osso buco, veal Oscar with lump crabmeat and braised rabbit with figs. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
NUVOLARI'S 246 Gerard St., Mandeville (985) 626-5619; www.nuvolaris.com A Northshore tradition, Nuvolari's boasts a classic New York-style dining room and a menu of fine Italian entrees, like veal Parmesan Florentine with marinara, fresh spinach, provolone and Romano cheese. Reservations recommended for parties of four or more. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
OLIVE BRANCH CAFE 1995 Barataria Blvd., Marrero 348-2008; 5163 Gen. DeGaulle Drive 393-1107; www.olivebranchcafe.com The Olive Branch bills itself as 'the gourmet pizza place' on the West Bank, and pies like the Muffuletta (salami, ham and imported olives with mozzarella cheese) and the shrimp pesto (shrimp, pesto sauce, artichokes, tomatoes, mozzarella and provolone) explain why. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
RAGUSA'S SICILIAN DELICATESSEN 3363 Severn Ave., Metairie 454-2723 This Italian deli, with its 'old country meets Crescent City' flavors, now stays open for dinner. The artichoke bread, a French loaf stuffed with artichokes and three kinds of cheese, the eggplant Parmesan sandwich and signature muffalettas are all tasty treats any hour of the day. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
RESTAURANT CYPRESS 4426 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie 885-6885 Cypress adds a Creole inflection to Old World Italian specialties like homemade ravioli stuffed with both Maine lobster and mascarpone cheese in a dill cream sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch Thursday and Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
RICCOBONO'S PEPPERMILL RESTAURANT 3524 Severn Ave., Metairie 455-2266 The signature oysters Riccobono, a casserole with mushrooms, green onions, garlic and Parmesan cheese, and the hearty veal dishes are both good choices. Reservations recommended. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tuesday through Sunday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$
RISTORANTE CARMELO 541 Decatur St. 586-1414; www.ristorantecarmelo.com This trattoria makes a devilishly good spicy lobster fra diavolo in red sauce over linguine and an authentic veal sorentino, a dish of sauteed white veal, eggplant, prosciutto and mozzarella in a touch of tomato sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
RISTORANTE DA PIERO 401 Williams Blvd., Kenner 469-8585 Guests are serenaded by an opera singer while dining on Romagnia regional specialties like filetto al pepe verde, medallions of beef served with green peppercorn sauce and pasta. Seasonal specials take advantage of the freshest regional produce and seafood. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Sunday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks. $$
RISTORANTE FILIPPO 1917 Ridgelake Drive, Metairie 835-4008 Chef Philip Gagliano lovingly prepares zuppa Fellippa, a soup of seafood stock, shrimp, lump crab and oysters, and the signature spedini, a chicken breast stuffed with breadcrumbs, tomatoes and cheese over spaghettini in a Mediterranean sauce. The menu also includes fish, veal dishes and a wonderful selection of Californian and Italian wines. Reservations recommended on weekends. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
RISTORANTE LA RIVIERA 4506 Shores Drive, Metairie 888-6238; www.larivierarestaurant.com They say at La Riviera, 'the seafood is fresh, the pastas are homemade and the service is friendly.' Seafood risotto and lump crabmeat-stuffed ravioli topped with a rich white sauce are specialties in Chef Aldo Marcone's repertoire of classic Italian cuisine. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
SAL AND SAM'S 4300 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 885-5566 Sal and Sam's prides itself on its steaks and osso buco: veal shanks marinated in a marinara sauce. Live piano jazz courtesy of Joey Arnd is a feature on weekends, and some dishes are prepared tableside, including steak Diane and the always impressive bananas Foster. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $$$
SALVATORE RISTORANTE 3226 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie 455-2433; www.chefsfreerecipe.com The trout Salvatore is a sauteed fillet served in a shrimp and crabmeat sauce. The Sal's Delight is a mesquite-grilled petite filet, a fried softshell crab finished with lemon butter caper sauce, and sauteed baby veal finished off with crabmeat and mushroom sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $$
SANDRO'S TRATTORIA 6601 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 888-7784 Specialties include the frutti del mar pasta -- steamed mussels, shrimp and oysters in a light white wine sauce over fresh pasta -- and the Boscoli burger, a 10-oz. burger topped with olive salad and melted provolone, a lunch favorite. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Monday though Saturday. Credit cards. $$
TECORO'S SEAFOOOD & ITALIAN RESTAURANT 3525 Williams Blvd., Kenner 466-5550 The sisters Terrie, Corliss and Rose offer their own take on Italian food, starting with the Three Sisters Stuffed Chicken. The dish features three fried chicken breasts served different ways: Sister Terrie (proscuitto, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, green onions and provolone cheese), Sister Corliss (spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, garlic and feta cheese) and Sister Rosemary (rosemary-stuffed chicken). Reservations recommended on weekends. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
TOMMY'S CUISINE 746 Tchoupitoulas St. 581-1103 Chef Tommy Andrade presents a Creole-Italian menu that features daily specials, osso buco and stuffed pork chops. Try the eggplant seafood casserole: shrimp, crabmeat and crawfish baked with eggplant and herbs. The duck Tchoupitoulas is crispy roasted duck glazed with raspberry demi-glace and served with fresh spinach and wild rice. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
TONY ANGELLO'S RISTORANTE 6262 Fleur de Lis Drive 488-0888 Perhaps the best way explore the fine Italian meals at Tony Angello's is to select the 'feed-me' option: Chef Tony Angello will bring out several courses of his favorites of the night. Eggplant Tina is thinly sliced eggplant, lightly battered and fried, then layered with cheese and fresh marinara sauce. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
TONY MANDINA'S RESTAURANT 1915 Pratt St., Gretna 362-2010; www.tonymandinas.com Tony Mandina's specializes in southern Italian cuisine. The restaurant proclaims its eggplant/veal parmigiana is 'The Best of Both Worlds': Italian breaded eggplant and tender veal layered with mozzarella and marinara, served with pasta. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $$
TONY MORAN'S 240 Bourbon St. 523-4640; www.ruebourbon.com Two standard dishes beckon to discriminating diners: Seafood lovers are invited to try the stuffed prawns diavolo, filled with a crabmeat stuffing and served over a spicy tomato sauce and vegetables. Meat-eaters should try the bistecca alla funghi, a prime-aged New York strip steak broiled and then flamed in a peppercorn cream grappa sauce. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
TORTORICI'S 441 Royal St. 522-4295; www.tortoricis.com To the tune of the nightly live piano music, Tortorici's creates an Italian and Creole fusion with dishes like stuffed redfish braciola, a fresh redfish filled with seafood stuffing then rolled, paneed, baked, and topped with fresh Louisiana shrimp and mushrooms in a light cream sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
TWO TONY'S RESTAURANT 105 Hammond Hwy., Metairie 831-0999; www.two-tonys.com Co-founded by Tony Montalbano and his son, Chef Anthony, Two Tony's serves up Italian and seafood. Tony recommends the speckled trout piccata, a pan-fried speckled trout fillet cooked golden and topped with artichoke hearts in a lemon butter sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards. $$
VENEZIA 134 N. Carrollton Ave. 488-7991; 587 Central Ave., Jefferson 734-3991 Venezia is comfortably enjoying its popularity at two locations, following an expansion to Jefferson. Diners are happy to dig into the trout amandine or eggplant Vatican, a hollowed-out, batter-fried eggplant stuffed with seafood cream sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday at Jefferson, daily at the Carrollton Avenue location. Credit cards. $$
VINCENT'S 4250 Hwy. 22 (Pine Tree Plaza Shopping Center), Mandeville (985) 624-2300; 4411 Chastant St., Metairie 885-2984; 7839 St. Charles Ave. 866-9313 Excellent Italian choices like the corn crab bisque, veal and spinach cannelloni and the seafood-stuffed pork chop ensured that Vincent's was voted the best Italian restaurant by Gambit Weekly readers in 2004. Reservations recommended for large parties and on weekends in Mandeville. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $$
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